June 6, 2021
AmeriCup roster finalized
By Tee Baker
Team will compete for a chance to play in 2022 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament
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The roster for the USA AmeriCup Team has been finalized. The team has been together since June 1 for a training camp and will depart on June 8 for the AmeriCup, which will be played June 11-19 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The USA squad is highlighted by First Team AP All-Americans Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) and Aliyah Boston (South Carolina). The 10 other players who will compete with the team in the AmeriCup are Grace Berger (Indiana), Jakia Brown-Turner (NC State), Veronica Burton (Northwestern), Elissa Cunane (NC State), Destanni Henderson (South Carolina), Naz Hillmon (Michigan), Haley Jones (Stanford), Diamond Miller (Maryland), Ashley Owusu (Maryland) and Sedona Prince (Oregon).
Notably, NaLyssa Smith (Baylor), Big 12 Player of the Year and 2021 Wade trophy winner, was not able to attend training camp due to an illness in her family and will not be part of the final roster.
“Coming into this portion of our training camp, we were anticipating having 13 players, and it’s unfortunate that NaLyssa is having a family issue. We pray for her family during this time,” said Dawn Staley, USA AmeriCup and National Team head coach. “We also want to congratulate the 12 players that are here that have been working extremely hard to make this basketball team. We have a great group, both on and off the court, that will certainly represent the red, white and blue well. Our goal is to win a gold medal, and that’s our focus.”
Head coach Dawn Staley, who also coaches the South Carolina Gamecocks, will be joined by assistant coaches Adia Barnes and Jennifer Rizzotti. The USA Basketball Women’s Junior and Senior National Team Committees selected the invitees.
Ten countries from North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, will compete in the AmeriCup from June 11 to June 19 in Puerto Rico. The top four nations will get the chance to play in a qualifying tournament for the 2022 FIBA World Cup.
Written by Tee Baker
Tee has been a contributor to The Next since March Madness 2021 and is currently a contributing editor, BIG EAST beat reporter and curator of historical deep dives.
